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Striped African tetra (Micralestes vittatus) — Alestidae

Striped African tetra

Micralestes vittatus
Family: Alestidae

The Striped African tetra (Micralestes vittatus) is a freshwater fish of the family Alestidae that grows up to 9 cm.

Length
9 cm
Water
Freshwater
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless

Description

The striped African tetra is a small characin (Alestidae) from fresh water of the Congo basin in Central Africa. The species grows to about 9 cm and has a slender, silvery, laterally compressed body with a dark longitudinal stripe and an adipose fin. As a schooling fish it swims in rivers and streams near the surface and eats small insects, larvae and plankton. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Striped African tetra?

The Striped African tetra has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Striped African tetra live?

The Striped African tetra lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Striped African tetra get?

The Striped African tetra grows to a maximum of about 9 cm.

Is the Striped African tetra dangerous to humans?

No, the Striped African tetra is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Streep-Afrikaanse tetra sourced
English name
Striped African tetra sourced
Scientific name
Micralestes vittatus
Family
Alestidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
9.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Micralestes

More from the family Alestidae

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